Silvio Berlusconi appeared to bow to pressure from political allies yesterday
not to try to make a comeback as Prime Minister of Italy, announcing instead
that he wanted to become economy minister.

The “bunga bunga” loving billionaire and three-time Prime Minister made the
apparent concession as he sealed an electoral pact with the Northern League
party that was essential to save both it and Mr Berlusconi’s People of
Freedom party from oblivion in the Italian election on February 24-25.

The Northern League, a former coalition partner that broke with Mr Berlusconi
when he fell from power in 2011, has insisted